Body weight perception and body weight control behaviors in adolescents

Abstract Objective: To investigate the association between the perception of body weight (as above or below the desired) and behaviors for body weight control in adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 1051 adolescents (aged 15-19 years) who were high school students a...

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Main Authors: Robson Frank, Gaia S. Claumann, Érico P.G. Felden, Diego A.S. Silva, Andreia Pelegrini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier
Series:Jornal de Pediatria
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0021-75572018000100040&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Robson Frank
Gaia S. Claumann
Érico P.G. Felden
Diego A.S. Silva
Andreia Pelegrini
author_facet Robson Frank
Gaia S. Claumann
Érico P.G. Felden
Diego A.S. Silva
Andreia Pelegrini
author_sort Robson Frank
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective: To investigate the association between the perception of body weight (as above or below the desired) and behaviors for body weight control in adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 1051 adolescents (aged 15-19 years) who were high school students attending public schools. The authors collected information on the perception of body weight (dependent variable), weight control behaviors (initiative to change the weight, physical exercise, eating less or cutting calories, fasting for 24 h, taking medications, vomiting, or taking laxatives), and measured body weight and height to calculate the body mass index and then classify the weight status. Associations were tested by multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: Adolescents of both sexes who perceived their body weight as below the expected weight took more initiatives to gain weight, and those who perceived themselves as overweight made more efforts to lose weight. In adolescents who perceived themselves as overweight, the behavior of not taking medication was associated with the outcome only in boys (Odds Ratio = 8.12), whereas in girls, an association was observed with the variables eating less, cutting calories, or avoiding fatty foods aiming to lose or avoid increasing body weight (Odds Ratio = 3.39). Adolescents of both sexes who practiced exercises were more likely to perceive themselves as overweight (male Odds Ratio = 2.00; Odds Ratio = 1.93 female). Conclusion: The perception of the body weight as above and below one's expected weight was associated with weight control behaviors, which were more likely to result in initiatives to lose and gain weight, respectively.
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spelling doaj.art-56da613a1ad644a5aeff6e4f23a2a0202022-12-22T00:04:34ZengElsevierJornal de Pediatria1678-4782941404710.1016/j.jped.2017.03.008S0021-75572018000100040Body weight perception and body weight control behaviors in adolescentsRobson FrankGaia S. ClaumannÉrico P.G. FeldenDiego A.S. SilvaAndreia PelegriniAbstract Objective: To investigate the association between the perception of body weight (as above or below the desired) and behaviors for body weight control in adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 1051 adolescents (aged 15-19 years) who were high school students attending public schools. The authors collected information on the perception of body weight (dependent variable), weight control behaviors (initiative to change the weight, physical exercise, eating less or cutting calories, fasting for 24 h, taking medications, vomiting, or taking laxatives), and measured body weight and height to calculate the body mass index and then classify the weight status. Associations were tested by multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: Adolescents of both sexes who perceived their body weight as below the expected weight took more initiatives to gain weight, and those who perceived themselves as overweight made more efforts to lose weight. In adolescents who perceived themselves as overweight, the behavior of not taking medication was associated with the outcome only in boys (Odds Ratio = 8.12), whereas in girls, an association was observed with the variables eating less, cutting calories, or avoiding fatty foods aiming to lose or avoid increasing body weight (Odds Ratio = 3.39). Adolescents of both sexes who practiced exercises were more likely to perceive themselves as overweight (male Odds Ratio = 2.00; Odds Ratio = 1.93 female). Conclusion: The perception of the body weight as above and below one's expected weight was associated with weight control behaviors, which were more likely to result in initiatives to lose and gain weight, respectively.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0021-75572018000100040&lng=en&tlng=enBody weight changesWeight gainWeight lossWeight reduction programsHealth behavior
spellingShingle Robson Frank
Gaia S. Claumann
Érico P.G. Felden
Diego A.S. Silva
Andreia Pelegrini
Body weight perception and body weight control behaviors in adolescents
Jornal de Pediatria
Body weight changes
Weight gain
Weight loss
Weight reduction programs
Health behavior
title Body weight perception and body weight control behaviors in adolescents
title_full Body weight perception and body weight control behaviors in adolescents
title_fullStr Body weight perception and body weight control behaviors in adolescents
title_full_unstemmed Body weight perception and body weight control behaviors in adolescents
title_short Body weight perception and body weight control behaviors in adolescents
title_sort body weight perception and body weight control behaviors in adolescents
topic Body weight changes
Weight gain
Weight loss
Weight reduction programs
Health behavior
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0021-75572018000100040&lng=en&tlng=en
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